The Christmas season is well and truly here, bringing with it the dark and cold evenings making us cosy up in the heart of the home, the kitchen. We sat down with Roma of Stories Of Home on Instagram and beloved previous Herringbone client, and chatted about all things Christmas. From decs to favourite meals and fondest memories of family time in the kitchen during the most wonderful time of the year.

HK: Roma, what do you love most about interiors during this time of year? 

R: I absolutely love using what is around us outside in our decorating. Traditionally that’s what people did. They brought holly, firs and all sorts inside to make their homes more festive. I love that it doesn’t have to all be too much effort. Some wreaths on the windows, hydrangeas on the tree (that my friend gifts me from her garden each year). Twisting berry branches on your front gate and a string of preferably battery lights with a timer!  

HK: How wonderful, bringing the outside in! What are some little things you add or change in your home and kitchen during the festive season?

R: Our beautiful Herringbone kitchen comes into its own at Christmas. It is a pastel green and just looks incredibly Christmassy without the need to do much. So we dress the island a little then put a really nice wreath up on the window and this year the pantry doors too! I have a bit of a collection box of velvet ribbons in forest greens, deep mustard colour, ink black and deep red. I use these to tie up strings of light, bows on cupboard handles and of course to tie up some wreaths. 

HK: It sounds beautiful! What part of your kitchen do you find yourself coming back to the most or is most useful during Christmas? 

R: All of it! I can’t actually choose. We love to cook and use every section of our Lacanache Flavingny cooker. Roasting, stewing, baking or something bubbling away on top. 

Our pantry cupboard has been so very useful. It is actually incredible how much you can store there and it’s so nice to make it pretty with different storage containers and tins. When it is tidy it’s one of my favourite places!! 

Finally the sink. I spent a lot of time there during the holidays. Probably the most useful thing here is the hot water tap. It saves so much time if you need to fill a large pan or if you fancy a quick cup of tea. 

When friends come over we gather around the island and share a toast together. So happy to be able to do that again this season! Fingers crossed. 

HK: It sounds like your kitchen is well in use! We love to hear that. What’s your go to festive colour scheme/aesthetic? And has this changed? 

R: Well I’m pretty much obsessed with greens and this has continued. I like to add black, pinks, deep red and toffee or mustard coloured accessories. Green on green is also great! 

HK: Green has definitely been a huge favourite in kitchens this year! And we have been seeing a lot more colour come into projects too. Do you have any fond memories of being in the kitchen during Christmas, with family , friends or from your childhood? 

R: Before we did our renovation at home and had just moved into the cottage we had to have a Christmas BBQ outside as our old oven gave up. It was a real laugh and definitely one of the funniest memories we have for this time of year. 

Luigi is from Sardinia and they create the most wonderfully detailed miniature Christmas village displays at home. Spending a long time preparing each little section and collecting moss to be the base of the little village. It’s so beautiful to look at. 

In Ireland I remember my family restaurant at Christmas time. My sister would paint the front windows with Christmas characters and cute winter scenes. People bustled in for a rest during their Christmas shopping and there was always a lovely community atmosphere.  

HK: A BBQ Christmas sounds fantastic! Albeit might be a bit cold for me! Finally Roma, what is your favourite Christmas recipe? Are you Team English kitchen table or Team Italian?

R: We have so many! It’s impossible to choose, However at Christmas Luigi @theislandtable is head chef in our house and our favourite festive menus look a bit like this: On Christmas Eve we usually cook some fish dishes with a Sardinian twist. On Christmas Day it’s a pull out all the stops roast. Followed by some olives, chutney, cheese like taleggio, pecorino and local British and Irish ones. 

HK: Sounds like the perfect blend of Italy and the UK!

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Roma for chatting to us and we wish her and her whole family a very Happy Christmas!